Woman Physically Assaulted At Odisha Police Station, Army Officer Friend 'Unlawfully Detained': Here's What Happened So Far

An Army officer's friend has alleged that she was sexually harassed, and her partner was illegally jailed when she tried to file a complaint at a police station near Odisha's Bhubaneswar.

The woman was arrested last week on charges of assaulting cops and vandalising police property. The allegations were made after she was released on bail on Wednesday (18 September).

Following the allegations, five police personnel, including an Inspector-rank officer, were suspended and a disciplinary procedure for "gross misconduct" was launched against them.

The woman reported that she attempted to file a complaint at the Bharatpur Police Station after she and her partner were assaulted by a group of men late Sunday night while returning home from her restaurant around 1 am

However, when they arrived at the station, only a female constable, dressed in civilian clothes, was present, and she refused to assist them, according to the woman's account.

The woman further alleged that the constable verbally abused her, after which male officers arrived and requested a written statement from her partner, who is an Army officer.

The situation escalated when the male officers allegedly detained her partner, to which she objected stating that an Army officer cannot be unlawfully detained. Then two female constables allegedly assaulted her.

She said she resisted and bit one of the officers but was eventually subdued, tied up with her jacket, and left in a room. She also accused a male officer of physically assaulting her, stating that he kicked her on breasts repeatedly.

The woman alleged that the officer then dropped his pants and forcefully removed hers. She also claimed that the station's Inspector made inappropriate gestures, as per an NDTV report.

Meanwhile, the police have countered the allegations, stating that the woman and her Army officer partner, who is with the 22 Sikh Regiment in Kolkata, were intoxicated and had attacked an on-duty officer, damaging police property in the process.

Local media reported that a liquor bottle was found in the Army officer's vehicle. However, under the directive of Director-General of Police YB Khurania, a formal complaint has been lodged at the Chandaka Police Station.

The woman received medical treatment for her injuries at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, with footage showing her in a neck brace and arm sling. The woman was granted bail by the Odisha High Court.

The National Commission for Women has taken notice of the case and requested a report from the police, calling for urgent disciplinary action. Additionally, Odisha Police's Crime Branch has been tasked with investigating the incident further.